As a death doula (also known as an end-of-life doula), I spend time with adults in hospice who are in their final weeks, days or hours. Becoming a death doula has taught me about what to expect at the end of life and given me the opportunity to help others do the same. The following year, wanting a better understanding of my father’s passing and of death in general, I researched the role of a death doula. Around the same time I completed my doula training, my 80-year-old neighbor died, and I adopted her 8-year-old dog, Gaia. Being a death doula has changed my view of death — understanding what happens at the end of life has reduced my fear of dying.
